Loose leaf binder



Ma 30, 1939. .R. w. HUNT 2,160,147

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 1. flit (a: 6/ F411 62 61% 4 v 6. -57 Z 62 n R, w. HUNT LOOSE LEA]; BINDER Filed Sept; 30, 1936 May 30, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 z 1 4 a/ A, w d; f fl/L 1P 1| n v -J 11.x. \III'MNI 7 3 r J y w, i 5 s 2 F Lm J I 2 4 Q/ M (J a J. 4 .a .0 Q A i .2 E

1' nuerzforn Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to looseleaf binders of what may be called the permanent or storage type, which are employed for binding and retaining permanently in book form a number of 6 used ofiice record sheets such as invoices and so forth, as distinguished from binders of the ring or post type such as are used for holding together live or current records which it is desired to remove and replace at intervals for the purpose of working thereon.

The principal object of my said invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which shall be universal in its application, that is to say, a standard set of component parts will be adapted to bind together a pile of leaves varying in thickness through a wide range, such as for example, from one-quarter inch to twelve inches or more.

A further object of my invention is to provide a binder which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture, and which is devoid of projections or protuberances which are present in binders of ordinary construction, and which prevent the books bound therewith from being piled together in a neat and orderly manner.

With these and other objects in view, I will now describe a preferred embodiment of my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation showing the component parts of my improved binder together with a number of leaves assembled ready for bind- Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 4 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 1 but showing diagrammatically the arrangement of the parts after the binding operation has been completed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on line 5-5 of Figure 6, and drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating the initial stage of the binding or locking-up operation.

, Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan View of the 45 same.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation corresponding to that shown in Figure 5, taken on line l! of Figure 8, showing the binding operation somewhat further advanced.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the same.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation similar to that shown in Figure 5, taken on line 99 of Figure 10, showing the binding process in still further advanced stage.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the same.

Figure 11 is a similar sectional elevation taken on line I |ll of Figure 12, showing the parts in the final stage of the binding operation.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the same, and

Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 illustrate details of the covers.

Like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, I designates the pile of leaves to be bound and 2 the outer covers or boards, while 3 indicates the binding strips, of sheet metal or other suitable material, which serve to hold the leaves and the covers together. Adjacent the rear or binding edge of the pile is a strip of fiber or other relatively stiff material 4 creased at 4| so as to present an L-shaped section, one leg of which lies parallel to the leaves and is bound therewith While the other leg, in its initial position, projects freely at an angle thereto, as indicated at 42. Secured to the inside surface of each of the covers 2 is a strip of canvas or other flexible material 5 which extends outwardly to the edge of the pile and passes around the horizontal leg of the member 4, being glued thereto, and terminating in a narrow return end 5| which is secured to the free leg of the said member. Secured to the outer surface of each cover 2 is a strip of flexible material 6 which extends rearwardly and is secured to the rear face of the member 42 and extends to a considerable extent therebeyond so as to form a flap 6|, as shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 2. Thus, each of the covers 2, together with its attached flexible members 5 and 6 and the fiber strip 4, form a unitary structure which is prepared beforehand and made of a length corresponding to that of the leaves to be bound. Slots corresponding in number to that of the binding strips 3| are, of course, punched in the leaves I and also in the covers proximate to the rear edges of the same.

Intermediate the covers 2 is a strip of fiber 1 bent upon itself and inserted for some distance into the pile l but having the free edges or win-gs H projecting therefrom. Extending through the slots in the leaves and through the rear edges of the covers are the binding strips 3 which also extend through the strip 1 and retain it in position within the pile. 8 are the binding plates, each consisting of a strip of sheet steel or other suitable material having therein the longitudinal slots 8| coinciding with the slots in the pile l and adapted to receive the binding strips 3. In the edge 82 of each plate and co-extensive with the slots 8| are provided the notches 83 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Assuming now that the required number of sheets have been assembled in the pile I and the covers 2 placed in position, as indicated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the strip 1 being also positioned in the pile as shown, one of the binding plates 8 is secured to the lower end of the strips 3, in a manner which will be thoroughly understood hereinafter, while the free ends 3| of the strips project upwardly beyond the top of the pile. The upper binding plate 8 is then passed over the free end 3| of the binding strips as shown in Figures 5 and 6, in which the binding strip is shown in full lines in a vertical position. The end of the binding strip is then bent in the direction of the arrow at to the position indicated in broken lines at 3 l which looks it against movement within the slot 8| of the plate. The plate 8 with its edge 82 resting upon the cover is then rotated in the direction of the arrow 11 into the position indicated in Figures 7 and 8, during which movement, due to the cam-like action of the parts, tension is applied to the strip 3, tending to compress the leaves together. Further rotation of the locking plate in the direction of the arrow y brings it to the position indicated in Figures 9 and 10 in which it will be observed that the edge 82 of the plate is approximately coincident with the position of the strips 3, so

, that the tensioning action upon the strips is terminated. This movement of the plate 8 is then continued until it lies flat upon the cover as shown in Figures 11 and 12, and with the plate in this position, it will be observed that the binding strips 3, where they emerge from the slots in the pile and in the covers, rest against the inner edge of the notches 83 while the free end 3| is held between the plate and the cover, its free end extending to some distance beyond the same. The projecting ends 3| of the strips are now removed, either by shearing or by flexing back and forth until the material breaks. It will be now observed that, when the parts are in the relative positions indicated in Figures 11 and 12, the line of pull of the binding strips 3 is spaced inwardly from the edge 82 of the plate 8 so that the said pull tends to retain the plates in the position shown and to hold the pile of leaves and the covers firmly together in an efiicient manner.

In order to complete the book thus bound together and to cover up the binding plates and the strips so as to prevent scratching or other injury of the user or of furniture, the wings H of the centrally disposed strip 1 are bent around into contact with the back of the pile, as indicated in Figure 4, and the flaps 6| upon the covers are also brought into alignment with the back of the pile and glued or otherwise secured to the wings. During this operation the free edge 42 of the fiber strip 4 is brought over and held parallel to the plate 8 so as to entirely cover it.

The wings ll of the member I are initially made of a width sufficient to cover between them the thickest pile of leaves which it is intended to bind, the said wings being then trimmed down as required so as to adapt them to piles thinner than the maximum. The flaps 6| are preferably made to extend beyond the ends of the leaves and covers, as indicated at 62 in Figure 2, and these extensions are finally bent around the ends of the wings so as to afford a smooth finish at these points. The plates 8 are made shorter than the strip 4 and the leaves I, so that the ends of the said plates are entirely covered when the binding operation is completed.

Figures 13, 14, 15, 16 and 1'7 of the drawings illustrate an improved method of making outer covers adapted for use in connection with my improved binding device, Figure 13 being a plan view showing the outer covers or boards and their associated members in their initial arrangement, Figure 14 an end elevation taken on line l4l4 of Figure 13, Figure 15 a plan view similar to Figure 13 but showing the parts in an intermediate stage of manufacture, Figure 16 an end elevation taken on line Iii-l6 of Figure 15, and Figure 17 a similar end elevation showing the completed cover.

In these last-named figures the numeral 2 designates the rigid members of cardboard or other suitable material and 5 designates the strip of canvas or other flexible material which forms the flexible portion of the cover, serving for attachment to the leaves to be bound, while 4 indicates the angle shaped strip of fiber previously referred to.

As shown in Figure 13, the strip of canvas 5 is in its initial flat condition, being cut as indicated at 52 and 52' so as to prepare it for bending in the manner to be hereinafter described. 4 is the strip of fiber already bent into angle shape having the legs 4 and 42. The canvas strip 5 being glued to the board 2 and the leg 42 of the fiber member 4 being secured to the said strip, the end 53 is now bent over as shown in Figure 15, one part of it being glued to the adjacent edge of the board 2 while the other part is bent around the leg 4 of the fiber member and terminates in a short flap 5| previously referred to. The other end 54 of the canvas strip is now bent around in a similar manner to that described in regard to the end 53 of the same, the extreme end then overlapping the portion 53 as indicated in broken lines at 541 in Figure 15. This operation combines the parts 2, 4, and 5 in a unitary structure, leaving the flap 61 above referred to free for attachment to the wing H of the member I, the end view then presenting the appearance shown in Figure 16. The angle member 4 is then rotated in the direction of the arrow ac in Figure 16 so that the parts occupy the relative positions shown in Figure 1'7, which figure illustrates the complete cover as shown in the upper portion of Figure 1 with the exception that it is upside down in relation to the said figure.

It will be observed that in the drawings the boards or covers and the fiber strips are shown in full lines, while the flexible or canvas portions, where they are shown in sectional or end view, are indicated in broken lines.

It will be observed from the foregoing description and by reference to the drawings that I have provided a binder which is of simple construction and economical to manufacture, and which is eminently adapted to the purpose set forth, and while I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the same, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which my invention relates that I may modify the same to meet any particular or peculiar requirements without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a book, in combination, a stack of punched sheets having a plurality of sets of registering apertures; a plate applied to one side of the sheets, one edge of said plate overlying said apertures and having therein notches registering with the same, there being slots in said plate in offset relation to said notches, and binding mem-' bers extending through said apertures and through said notches and having their end portions extending over said plate and passing downwards through said slots and under the plate.

2. In a book, in combination, a stack of punched sheets having a plurality of sets of registering apertures; a plate applied to one side of the sheets, one edge of said plate overlying said apertures and having therein notches registering with the same, there being slots in said plate in offset relation to said notches, and fiat, flexible binding members extending through said apertures and through said notches and having their end portions extending over said plate and passing downwards through said slots and under the plate.

3. In a book, in combination, a stack of punched sheets having a plurality of sets of registering apertures; a plate applied to one side of the sheets, one edge of said plate overlying said apertures and having therein notches registering with the same, there being slots in said plate in offset relation to said notches, binding members extending through said apertures and through said notches and having their end portions extending over said plate and passing downwards through said slots and under the plate, a

pair of cover members having portions of flexible material overlying said apertures and correspondingly punched, and a strip of material bent upon itself and inserted into the back of the stack of sheets intermediate said cover members and having one free end turned upwards and the other turned downwards so as to lie against the back of the stack, said cover members having flaps adapted to be folded over the back of the stack and to be secured to said respective adjacent free ends.

4. In a book, in combination, a stack of punched sheets having a plurality of sets of registering apertures; a plate applied to one side of the sheets, one edge of said plate overlying said apertures and having therein notches registering with the same, there being slots in said plate in oifset relation to said notches, and flat flexible metal binding members having their width parallel to the back of said stack and extending through said apertures and through said notches and having their end portions extending over said plate and passing downwards through said slots and under the plate, whereby the line of pull on said members is located inwardly from the edge of said plate to maintain the latter in equilibrium and lock it in tensioned position.

5. In a book, in combination, a stack of punched sheets having a plurality of sets of registering apertures; a plate applied to one side of the sheets, one edge of said plate overlying said apertures and having therein notches registering with the same, there being slots in said plate in offset relation to said notches, binding members extending through said apertures and through said notches and having their end portions extending over said plate and passing downwards through said slots and under the plate, a pair of cover members having portions of flexible material overlying said apertures and correspondingly punched and having flaps adapted to extend over the back of the stack of sheets and a strip of material bent upon itself and inserted into the back of the stack of sheets intermediate said cover members, the said strip being punched correspondingly with the sheets and having one free end turned upwards and the other turned downwards so as to lie against the back of the stack, and the said flaps on the cover 7 

